The labour ministry is paying for children's corners in public buildings under its "Beautiful Bulgaria" programme, the ministry said. Bids are open until 18 January 2027.

A children's corner is a space in a building where staff and visitors can leave their children while parents are being served or looking at an exhibition. They are set up in state and municipal offices, hospitals, libraries, museums and other public buildings.

Municipalities, regional governors, state bodies and oversight agencies can apply if they own the buildings named in the bid. Under the measure "Setting up a children's corner in buildings for public services", each bid can have a budget of €5,000 to €25,000 including VAT. "Beautiful Bulgaria" pays up to 70% of the sum.

The 2027 campaign has other measures too. Under "Improving the public environment in towns and villages" and "Improving social infrastructure", each bid can have a budget of €60,000 to €300,000 including VAT. The applicant must put in at least 50%. The programme pays no more than €70,000 including VAT, or up to €90,000 if training is included.

The measure "Improving social services for residential care and providing shelter" (M02-01) is for disadvantaged people. Bids here are also €60,000 to €300,000 including VAT, but the applicant must put in at least 30%. The programme pays up to €90,000 including VAT without training and up to €110,000 with training. Buildings that are listed cultural heritage cannot be repaired under this measure.

The measure "Providing accessible environment in public buildings" pays to build and maintain spaces that suit people with reduced mobility and disabilities. "Improving education infrastructure in vocational high schools offering dual training and/or state-protected specialities" is for schools with dual training or protected specialities. Funding for a project under these two measures is between €40,000 and €120,000 including VAT, and the programme covers up to 70%.

In 2026, "Beautiful Bulgaria" is funding 51 projects in 48 municipalities. They are expected to give work to at least 333 people in construction, at least 120 of whom were previously registered as unemployed at labour offices.

A total of 177 registered unemployed people are on 14 training courses. The ministry says their chances of finding a job will be better after the training.

Updated (30.10, 12:23): The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy says it is not true that such buildings cannot be renovated. Under the "Setting up a Children's Corner in public service buildings" measure, rooms can be used in state- or municipality-owned buildings with immovable cultural property status, as first reported for measure M02-01. The restriction on immovable cultural property applies to the residential care and shelter measure. For children's corners, construction and repair work is allowed, as is buying equipment and furnishings.